Involvement in sports carries so many perks – fun activity, competition, socialization, benefits for physical and mental health – and the list goes on. Unfortunately, there is also an increased prevalence of eating disorders in sports spheres. Of course, we are not suggesting that you pull your kids out of all sports involvement but there are a few things you can do and may want to consider! Educate yourself on the warning signs and risk factors for eating disorders, understand the implications of under fueling, and do your part to support healthy relationships with food and athletics.

Some people may be genetically inclined towards an eating disorder, or they may have particularly strong social or cultural risk factors. Sometimes sports environments can be the tipping point in developing an eating disorder. Participating in appearance focused sports (such as dance, figure skating, etc.), endurance sports (such as cross country), or sports with weight classes (such as wrestling) can increase the risk of developing an ED, as there can over-the-top pressure from coaches or family to perform, or coaches focusing on weight or appearance. Attempting to lose weight during training periods and a rapid increase in training volume may also increase the risk of developing an ED. Participation in sports can make identifying an ED even more difficult, but here are some warning signs to watch for:

Weight loss or changes in weight
Changes in intake
Changes in performance
Being overly focused on “clean” eating
Overtraining, working out outside of practice, or in a manner not advised by coaches
Increased fatigue, getting lightheaded, or passing out
Changes in mood – irritability, increased anxiety, etc.

Eating disorders in sports may begin out of a desire to improve performance, but the result is much the opposite. For those with EDs in sports, recovery is slower, and their bodies can’t respond as well to training. Consequences may include decreased strength, endurance, and/or power, and increased injury risk. In addition to performance being negatively impacted, athletes with EDs may experience GI side effects such as constipation, stomach pain or bloating, increased fatigue, anemia or even growth impairment due to nutritional deficiency, and an increased risk of stress fractures due to a loss of bone density.

So, what can we do? As parents, coaches, and support people, you can take the spotlight off bodies/weight/appearance and instead emphasize the importance of fueling adequately for performance. You can encourage your athletes to listen to their bodies – both hunger cues and cues for rest. If you are concerned about disordered eating behaviors, your athlete has a diagnosed eating disorder, or you just want to make sure your athlete is fueling appropriately, add a dietitian to their care team! We would be honored to help. Call us today!